Topical Bible: God for Other Anthropomorphic Scriptures by Israel

Bible > Topical > God for Other Anthropomorphic Scriptures by Israel

◄ God for Other Anthropomorphic Scriptures by Israel ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Introduction

In the context of the Bible, God is the central figure, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. The Scriptures present God in various anthropomorphic forms, attributing human characteristics to Him to convey His nature and actions in ways that are comprehensible to human understanding. This entry explores the depiction of God in anthropomorphic terms within the Scriptures, focusing on His attributes, actions, and relationship with humanity.

Attributes of God

1. Omnipotence: God is portrayed as all-powerful, capable of performing acts beyond human ability. In Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," His power is evident in the act of creation. The Psalms frequently celebrate His might, as in Psalm 147:5, "Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit."

2. Omniscience: God's knowledge is complete and perfect. He knows all things, past, present, and future. Psalm 139:1-4 illustrates this: "O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar."

3. Omnipresence: God is present everywhere, transcending physical limitations. Jeremiah 23:24 states, "Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD.

4. Holiness: God's holiness is a fundamental attribute, setting Him apart from all creation. Isaiah 6:3 declares, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth."

5. Love and Mercy: God's love is steadfast and enduring. In 1 John 4:8, it is written, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." His mercy is highlighted in Lamentations 3:22-23, "Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!"

Actions of God

1. Creation: God is the Creator of all things, as seen in Genesis 1. His creative power is further emphasized in John 1:3, "Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made."

2. Revelation: God reveals Himself to humanity through His Word and through His actions in history. Hebrews 1:1-2 states, "On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. But in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son."

3. Redemption: God's redemptive work is central to the biblical narrative. In Ephesians 1:7, it is written, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace."

4. Judgment: God is the righteous judge of all the earth. Acts 17:31 declares, "For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed."

Relationship with Humanity

1. Covenant: God establishes covenants with His people, promising to be their God and they His people. Genesis 17:7 states, "I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you."

2. Fatherhood: God is depicted as a loving Father to His children. In Matthew 6:9, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name."

3. Shepherd: God is often described as a shepherd who cares for His flock. Psalm 23:1 affirms, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."

4. King: God is the sovereign King over all creation. Psalm 47:7 proclaims, "For God is King of all the earth; sing profound praises to Him."

Conclusion

The anthropomorphic depictions of God in the Scriptures serve to bridge the infinite and the finite, allowing humanity to grasp aspects of His divine nature and His interactions with the world. Through these portrayals, believers are invited to know, worship, and relate to God in a personal and meaningful way.

Nave's Topical Index

1 Samuel 8:7,8
And the LORD said to Samuel, Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you: for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
Nave's Topical Index

Isaiah 65:12
Therefore will I number you to the sword, and you shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not hear; but did evil before my eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.
Nave's Topical Index

Isaiah 66:4
I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears on them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spoke, they did not hear: but they did evil before my eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Doctrine of God
... (2) What is meant by the anthropomorphic expressions used ... a) The Scriptures Assert
the Unity of God. ... is one God." 1:Cor.8:4""There is none other God but one ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrine of god.htm

Proofs in Continuation, Extracted from St. John's Gospel the ...
... from Valentinus, being, on the other hand, altogether ... Elijah invokes God as the God
of Abraham ... literally rendered, is, "This Gospel, then, is anthropomorphic.". ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xiproofs in continuation extracted.htm

Chapter vi
... way in "commencing to prey upon each other and to ... the point of view of v.12 is purely
anthropomorphic. ... purpose is not to state that now God first discovered ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter vi.htm

Chapter xviii
... about calling out to the woman in the other compartment of ... God is far from being
a tribal God; He is ... for the present is cast into the anthropomorphic mold of ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xviii.htm

Chapter xi
... The anthropomorphic expression Yahweh "came down" (yaradh) is a ... As long as it pleased
God to let the ... Other cases where special mention of barrenness is made are ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xi.htm

Chapter ii
... of 2:4 ff, is much more anthropomorphic than the ... Other items are occasionally cited;
there may suffice. ... be classed as arguing a conception of God no different ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter ii.htm

On Transparency.
... men and women concerning a certain "anthropomorphic" passage ... his auditors to exercise
"fiduciary" faith; the other, of a ... say as I think there is a God after all ...
/.../jackson/the message and the man/chapter ii on transparency.htm

Period ii. The Church from the Permanent Division of the Empire ...
... These secrets of the divine Scriptures we investigate as we ... which pertained to the
City of God; for whatever ... in furrows; but that this may be, other parts of ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period ii the church from.htm

A Traveler's Note-Book
... believed that this power extended to other sicknesses ... speedily to vanish through
the direct intervention of God. It is the old anthropomorphic idea of God"the ...
/.../merriam/the chief end of man/iii a travelers note-book.htm